Amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the UK’s Foreign Secretary has affirmed the nation’s commitment to safeguarding British interests in the Middle East. Following Iran’s vow of retaliation against recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, confirmed that UK “force protection” measures in the region are at their highest level.
In a parliamentary address, Lammy urged Iran to de-escalate the situation and engage in immediate negotiations with the US. While emphasizing the UK’s non-involvement in the US attack, he stated that the legality of the US actions was a matter for the Trump administration.
Lammy reiterated the UK’s stance against Iranian nuclear weapons development, asserting that the US strikes aimed to mitigate that threat. However, he refrained from explicitly endorsing the US strikes or commenting on their compliance with international law, highlighting the government’s delicate balancing act on the global stage and domestically.
Addressing the House of Commons, Lammy declared, “The situation presents serious risk to British interests in the region. Having deployed additional assets as a precaution, force protection is at its highest levels. Be in no doubt, we are prepared to defend our personnel, our assets, and those of our allies and partners.”
Recent UK military deployments to the Middle East include additional aircraft, such as Typhoon jets and air-to-air refueling tankers, for regional contingency support. Lammy also confirmed an RAF evacuation of 63 British nationals from Tel Aviv to Cyprus, with further flights planned, and acknowledged one British national injured during Iranian missile attacks.
Furthermore, a shelter-in-place advisory for British citizens in Qatar was issued, mirroring a similar US alert, following reports of a credible threat to the US-run Coalition Air Operations Centre at Al-Udaid. Lammy’s statement followed President Trump’s declaration that US strikes had severely damaged Iranian nuclear facilities.
While unable to provide a comprehensive assessment of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear program, Lammy reiterated his call for renewed negotiations, emphasizing that military strikes cannot eliminate Iran’s decades of accumulated knowledge or its ambition to develop nuclear weapons. The government’s diplomatic efforts are focused on de-escalation, with Lammy characterizing Iranian retaliation against US bases or a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a “catastrophic mistake.”
However, the government’s ambiguous stance on the US and Israeli strikes has drawn criticism. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel accused the government of obfuscation, demanding clarity on its position regarding the threat posed by Iran. Conversely, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Calum Miller criticized the US and Israel’s actions, arguing that their approach undermines international law and risks regional conflict.
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